Relationship between Stress Management Skills and Undergraduate Students’ Academic Achievement in Two Nigerian Universities

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between stress management skills and academic achievement of undergraduate students in two Nigerian universities. A total of 800 undergraduate students randomly selected from two universities participated in the study. Three null hypotheses were tested using data generated from research instruments. The instruments included a modified stress management scale adopted from its original form found in Blonna (2005). It has reliability coefficient of 0.81. Data generated from this instrument were correlated with current students' grade point average scores (G.P.A) using Pearson product moment correlation method. Results showed strong positive relationship between stress management skills and academic achievement. The relationship still exists when the data for each of the two genders were processed separately. It was recommended that stress management skills training should be given prominence in universities' guidance and counselling programmes while concerned authorities should endeavour to provide facilities that may help to reduce academic stress. Background to the Study There are various potential stressors that students face on a daily basis. These include the challenge of properly adjusting to the campus life which is quite